Do not Miss

[Showe]

We are going to WDW with my parents...first time for them. (they are in their 60s)

Any suggestions from the slightly "mature" group as to what not to miss ? We want to make sure that they get to see ALOT, but also don't want to tire them out. We have taken the kids to WDW several times now and they have seen it all, so they are up for touring a little with Grandma/Grandpa.

We will be doing MK, Epcot, and MGM.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. THANKS

 

[dsnymomof4]

WE just got back from a trip in December on which we brought my Mom(62) who hadn't been to WDW since 1985. She really enjoyed the "slower" rides, like Pirates, Small World, Pooh, etc., the shows at MGM - Millionaire, Beauty & Beast, Little Mermaid. We also did more sit down meals than we usually do. It was nice watching her experience some of our favorite attractions that she always hears us talking about after our trips. Have a great trip!

 

[WDWorBUST]

We took my parents (early 60's) for the first time this past trip in December. My dad isn't really into the whole "Disney" thing. But he enjoyed everything that made my DD light up. Also - he did really enjoy Soarin.

 

[Kae]

we just went with my folks in june, same ages as yours. At Mk Wishes, Mickey's Philharmagic(sp?), TTC my Dad loved riding thru Space Mtn. At Epcot Soarin, and touring the gardens. My dad also loved Mission Space-Put it 2nd to Soarin' AK Safari & It's tough to be a bug. Did not go to MGM but I think my parents would have loved the Great Movie Ride & Beauty & the Beast show.

My parents loved eating at Whispering Canyon-the Family enjoyed the 2 meals we had there.

Kae

 

[loafskier]

My parents - both 63 yo - joined us (dd 7, ds 5, dh 37, me 37) for our final day at the parks in November. We went to Magic Kingdom and they hadn't been since '75 (neither had I, except for the first day of our trip). We dragged them onto Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain (neither were there in '75), and they loved both, especially Splash, which they both deemed their favorite of the day. My mom said that Song of the South was the first movie she ever saw, so she was very nostalgic and could sing along with the songs. They also enjoyed Pirates (a nostalgic favorite from '75), Mickey's Philharmagic, Buzz Lightyear (mostly because they each rode with one of the kids and enjoyed being able to "play" with their grandchildren on a ride), and Carousel of Progress (another nostalgic favorite, my father's father had seen the original at the Worlds Fair in the 60s). I thought my kids would be bored on COP, but they actually enjoyed it. My dad loved the train ride, too. Very relaxing and a nice way to see the whole park when you need a break from walking.

I also recommend sit down meals and do PS's so there is minimal waiting.

Have fun with a three generation visit...my parents loved it all even though it was a little tiring.

Kate

 

[MELSMICE]

Here's what I would say not to miss...............

MK - Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Tiki Birds
Hall of President's
Small World
Peter Pan's Flight
Buzz Lightyear
Mickey's Philharmagic
Wishes

MGM - Beauty & the Beast
Indiana Jones
Muppetvision 3D
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Millionaire
One Man's Dream
Great Movie Ride
Backlot Tour
Stunt Motorcar Show
Fantasmic

EPCOT - All the countries (obviously)
Living with the Land
Soarin' (a definite must)
Honey I Shrunk the Audience
Journey into Imagination
Living Seas
Ellen's Energy Adventure
Illuminations
Spaceship Earth

Have fun!

 

[znjmom]

My parents were just down for my Mom's 60th birthday. SHe has been to Disney several times, but my Dad had never been. He came because that's all my Mom would say she wanted for her birthday. Well, long story short...he loved it. They just kept a slow and steady pace and enjoyed themselves. They did love Soarin'.

 

[Schucraig]

We just got back and were there with the kids and their grandparents. They enjoyed Philharmagic, TT, Turtle Talk With Crush and Splash Mountain. There are so many great things to enjoy! Have a great time!

 

[Em&Bec'sMom]

We were just at WDW over T'giving with my kids and my parents (67 & 62).
At MGM, book dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe - they had a blast checking out the scenery and even recognized a pair of curtains that my aunt used to have at her house about 50 years ago! My mom was at the New York World's Fair when It's a Small World premiered, so that was a big deal for us to take her on that. My mom loved the parades too. Oh, and in MK- book dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern - it's a nice, sit-down meal with traditional food and the "traditional" characters.
My parents basically just tagged along with us, as this was first trip for all of us and it was mostly about the kids. They had a lot of fun seeing Disney through the kids' eyes.

 

[paigevz]

When are you going? If you can go during Epcot's Flower and Garden my parents just love that........even my day, and it's the only thing he ever liked about Disney.

My mom loved everything the kids did, but she especially loved all the shows...........Little Mermaid, Festival of the Lion King, even the Pocahontas show..........adn the shows they do in the Theater of the Americas (I think that's what it's called?) across from the American Pavilion in Epcot. WE saw river dance there, and she raved about it. She was disappointed she couldn't go on our Christmas trip to see the Candlelight Processional. She loves the World Showcase countries. She enjoyed some of the Animal Kingdom and Living Seas, but she's not big into nature. She likes to people watch in the lines. She enjoyed the character dinners........especially Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's. She loves to look in the gift shops.........I know that's not really an attraction, but she does really love it........especially the Christmas store in Disney Marketplace.

I'd say, take it slow, look around, especially enjoy the World Showcase and Epcot gardens (there's a great miniature train set-up in Germany), be sure to spend time eating and shopping, and stay on-site at Port Orleans Riverside.........my mother loved it there.

 

[3boyzmom]

My parents are in their 60's and both absloutely loved the Wishes fireworks cruise we took. It is a little pricey - but I think that might have been their favorite experience. My parents also enjoyed the 50's Primetime Cafe alot!

 

[Chuck S]

Wow, when did people in their "60s" get so old? My Mom is 81 end enjoys Mission Space, Big Thunder, Splash, Test Track as well as the slower rides and shows? At DL, since they have the two across seating, she rides Space Mountain. But because of 3 hip surgeries she can't comfortably get in to the cars at WDW.

 

[megrod74]

We took my dad in Sept and he is 57. He loved Tower of Terror, Buzz Lightyear, Rockin Roller coaster, BTMRR. He doesn't care for shows or parades. I think it depends what kind of rides your parents are into.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

My mother, 65, went with us last May and here are the things that I remember as being "high lights" of the trip.

1) Character breakfast's and dinner's. My mother loved breakfast at Chef Mickey's and dinner at the Garden Grill. I think she like the attention the character's showed her, in addition to the interaction's with my DD.

2) Dinner at O'Hana. She loved this meal and the atmosphere.

3) Spectromagic. We saw this parade the first full day at the parks and she said when it was done "if I see nothing else or do nothing else the rest of the trip that was worth the trip in itself." And it was pretty cool to see her eyes light up and the smiles on her face as the different floats went by.

4) All of the shows, like the Festival of the Lion Kind and Beauty and the Beast. Classic disney things.

We went in 1973ish as a family vacation as a child, but mom had not been back since then. She liked to try and remember what had been there when she was there last and what it was like.

Also, I tried to prepare her for all of the walking, but until you are there it is hard to comprehend. Each day it got to be kind of a joke that she had thought I had been kidding when I told her she needed to "train" before going because of the amount of walking.

Hope you have a good trip.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

Took my FIL, MIL and SIL all to Disney in 2004 (they had never been) and they went on everything. I have to say that the inlaws are in their 60's. FIL had a problem on RnR, he wears a hearing aid and with the inversion it made him sick to his stomach. They even went on Mission Space, didn't love it. At the end of the trip they were glad that they went on everything to at least experience. Have a priceless picture of them on the ToT. And listening to MIL scream like a little girl on Space Mountain was priceless. Have them read up on all the rides and let them decide what they are comfortable with.

 

[D&DDisney]

My parents (60s) were doing all the "safe" rides and shows before they accidently stumbled onto Big Thunder Mt. Railroad, thinking it was a slow train ride. Boy, were they surprised.
After that, they were more willing to try thrill rides and see the other side of Disney.

 

[Grandmouse]

I am almost 62 and don't do anything differently than my children or grandchildren do when I am at WDW and it never occurred to me that I should be. I enjoy everything that I possibly can and I'm the one who wants to be the first one in the park in the morning and the last one out at night. I'm also the one who runs back to the resort to grab a sweater, etc., that someone else forgot, or runs ahead to the restaurant to give our name for our ADRs. The only rides I don't do are Star Tours and RNRC because of motion sickness (did them each once, and I don't intend to try Mission:Space) and I've had that problem all my life. Until I read this thread I wasn't aware that because someone is 60 they should be slowing down at the park. I will do Dumbo with my grandchildren and TOT with my children. BTM is my absolute favorite of them all!

 

[nicolem]

We took my parents (62 and 65) to DL last July, and we're taking them, as well as my 88-year-old grandmother, to WDW in June. DH had already warned my parents that I run a tight schedule when at the parks, but I don't think they were prepared for the crowds we encountered (it was the day before the official 50th anniversary). They made fun of my need to be at certain places at certain times, but they did admit that it if it were left up to them, they would have missed out on a lot.

Neither of them would ride BTTR, Space or Splash, and only my dad would ride the Matterhorn, but they loved pretty much everything else. I think the biggest thrill for them was watching my DS (12 mos at the time) experience everything. They don't get the allure of Disney, but they love being with their grandson! Their favorites were the shows and the character breakfast we had.

For our upcoming trip, I know that they won't do anything that moves too quickly or spins (my mom gets motion sickness). They've also warned me that they do not plan to get there first thing in the morning or stay till late at night. Luckily, they want to move at about the speed of DS, so they've volunteered to take him to the room for his afternoon naps and to watch him if we want to go out in the evenings.

We plan to spend a lot of time in World Showcase for them, and probably check out more shows than usual so they (and we) can take breaks from the heat. My mom is a teacher and really into educational stuff, so we might also spend more time in Animal Kingdom than we would otherwise. We'll also be doing 'Ohana and Biergarten - DH and I have been to both a couple of times and we always said, "If we ever get my parents here, we have to take them to 'Ohana and Biergarten."